Air circulating mechanism for refrigerated cases



H. J. HANLON ET AL.

AIR CIRCULATING MECHANISM FOR REFRIGERATED CASES Original Filed July 2, 1952 F l G. l Li i a tented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES AIR, CIRCULATING MECHANISM FOR REFRIGERATED CASES Herbert J. Hanlon and James J. Hanlon, Cleveland, Ohio Application July 2, 1932, Serial No. 620,688 Renewed June 13, 1935 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of refrigeration and pertains particularly to a device for use in a refrigerated casing, such for example, as a show case.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a device for use in refrigerated display cases by means of which a continuous circulation of the cold air therein will be maintained, the air circulating from the top to the bottom thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will maintain a continuous circulation of air within a refrigerated case or other refrigerated structure and which will prevent the air descending directly onto the contents of the case from the refrigerating coil, the device operatingto maintain a slow moving blanket of cold air over the contents of the case.

A still further object of the invention is to 20 provide, in a display case wherein the refrig- 'erant unit is operated above a freezing temperature, a means whereby the humidity of the interior of the display case will be controlled to insure perfect refrigeration of articles of food 25 within the case and their preservation in an attractive and saleable condition.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means whereby still refrigeration by induction, instead of refrigeration by forced circulation'directly from the refrigerating coils to the food or other articles in the display case, is obtained.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a view showing a cross section of a refrigerated display case, the same being outlined by dotted lines and showing the device embodying the present invention in position therein, the device being partly in cross section;

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the device embodying the present invention, the same being broken away to show details of construction.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the show case in which the present device is shown applied, is indicated generally by the letter A. The case is conventionally illustrated and is set forth throughout in dotted lines. In the upper part of the case there is disposed a refrigerating unit B and a similar unit is disposed longitudinally-within the lower part of the case as indicated at C, these units being of fin type coil construction. The units are, however, here conventionally illustrated as they form no part of the present invention. The lower unit 10 C is disposed beneath the usual food supporting tray or rack of the show case, which rack is indicated by the reference character D.

The device embodying the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral l and as shown this comprises an elongated trough-like body 2 which is closed at its ends and open throughout the top, as illustrated. This troughlike body is of double wall construction throughout as indicated at 4 and between these walls there is placed a suitable insulation material such as felt, cork or the like, the insulation material being indicated by the numeral 5.

Connected with the bottom of the trough-like body 2 at spaced intervals is a plurality of tubular arms each of which is indicated generally by the numeral 3. Each of these arms has an upper portion 6 which extends substantially at right angles to the adjacent side of the trough 2 and which opens into the trough through the bottom thereof, as illustrated.

Connecting with this portion 6 which is horizontally disposed when the unit is in use, is an elongated intermediate portion 1 which forms an obtuse angle therewith and the lower end of this intermediate portion is connected with a lower portion 8 which is vertically disposed when the unit is in operation and terminates in the inwardly directed terminal portion 9. This terminal portion 9 is centrally divided to form the two wings H) which provide outlets for the lower ends of the arms.

As illustrated, the device when in place in the refrigerated display case is disposed with the upper refrigerating coil B arranged in the trough 2 and the arms 3 extend to and downwardly across the inner face of the back wall of the case, terminating at their lower ends adjacent the bottom of the case beneath the rack D, the said lower ends being directed forwardly and downwardly so that condensed vapor collecting within the trough 2 will be conducted downwardly to the bottom of the case to pass off through the drain ll.

Associated with the unit which is indicated as a Whole by the numeral I is a bafiie plate l2. This is in the form of a plate having a portion along one longitudinal edge curved upwardly as indicated at [3 and this plate is of double wall construction like the trough 2 and is filled with a suitable insulating material l 4. The baffle plate I2 is disposed in the display case beneath the tray D and between the same and the lower refrigerating unit C, the curved portion 13 being directed upwardly and overlying the lower ends 9 of the arms.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that as the air is chilled about the coil B in the channel-like body 2 this chilled air will tend to flow downwardly to the lower part of the case tlnough the tubular arms 3 and will discharge in the lower part beneath the baffle plate I2. At the same time the air in the case about the food or other material therein, as it becomes warmer as a result of absorbing the heat from the food, will rise to be chilled by the coil B as it reaches the top of the case. Inasmuch as the refrigerant coil and material in the display case are kept above a freezing temperature, it will be seen that at the same time that the cooling and circulating of the air is taking place any moisture which is carried by the air will be condensed on the walls of the body 2 and will settle in the bottom of the body from which it will flow downwardly through the arms 3 into the lower part of the case to pass out through the drain opening. Moisture condensing on the arms 3 will likewise fiow downwardly with the cold air passing therethrough. By the use of the baffie plate i2 the cold air which is discharged into the case beneath the food carrying rack, will be prevented from coming into direct contact with the food but will be forced to flow forwardly into the front part of the case beneath the rack.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing that the present device will operate to maintain a slow circulation of air in the case, keeping a blanket of cold air slowly moving over the food and at the same time condensed moisture will be removed from the case thus drying out the air to a certain extent.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a refrigerated chamber having a refrigerating coil in the upper part thereof, a receptacle like body designed to partly surround and extend beneath the coil, an arm member of tubular formation having one end opening through the bottom of said body into the interior thereof and having its other end located in and discharging into the lower part of the chamber, said arm being designed to conduct cold air from the body to the lower part of the chamber and having its lower end formed to direct the cold air forwardly in the chamber, and a baffle plate overlying the forwardly directed end of said arm.

2. In a refrigerated chamber of the character described, having a refrigerating coil in the upper part thereof and an article supporting rack in the lower part thereof, an insulated receptacle like body partially surrounding and extending beneath said coil, a tubular arm having one end opening through the lower part of said body into the interior thereof, said arm being arranged to extend, into the lower part of the chamber and having its lower end formed to extend forwardly in the chamber beneath the article supporting rack, and a cold air baffle plate disposed beneath the article supporting rack and overlying the forwardly directed end of said arm.

3. In a refrigerated chamber having a refrigerating coil in the top thereof, a receptacle-like body disposed beneath and partly surrounding the coil, the body having the upper face of its bottom extending downward and medially and a tubular arm opening through the bottom of the body and extending into the lower part of the chamber and discharging thereinto whereby the air surrounding said coil will flow as it is chilled downwardly through said body into said arm into the lower part of said chamber and whereby condensate collecting on the bottom of the body will be carried off.

4. In a refrigerated chamber having a refrigerating coil in the upper part thereof, a removable unit comprising a receptacle having a through the bottom of saidbody, the arm extending downward into the lower part of the chamber and discharging thereinto whereby the air surrounding said coil will flow as it is chilled downwardly through said arm into the lower part of said chamber and whereby condensate collecting in the body will be discharged into the lower part of the chamber.

5. As an article of manufacture, a unit designed to be disposed within a refrigerated chamher having a refrigerating coil in the top thereof, the unit being formed to provide a receptaclelike body to extend beneath and upward on each side of the coil, the body being of insulating material and the bottom of the body being inclined laterally, and a plurality of tubular arms leading from and opening through the inclined bottom of 

